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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Generation of Human CD40-activated B cells
Published on: October 17, 2009
Bcl-x rather than Bcl-2 mediates CD40-dependent centrocyte survival in the germinal center
J M Tuscano1, K M Druey, A Riva
1Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1876, USA.
Abstract:
Both rapid B-cell proliferation and programmed cell death (PCD) occur during the differentiation and selection of B cells within the germinal center. To help elucidate the role of Bcl-x in B-cell antigen selection and PCD within the germinal center, we examined its expression in defined B-cell populations and by immunochemistry of tonsil tissue. Purified B-cell fractions enriched for centrocytes express high amounts of Bcl-x and relatively low amounts of Bcl-2, whereas fractions enriched for centroblasts lack significant levels of both proteins. Consistent with this observation, immunocytochemistry localized Bcl-x within cells scattered throughout the germinal center. Stimulation of tonsil B cells with either CD40 or Staphylococcus aureus Cowan increase bcl-x mRNA and protein levels. Treatment of a cell line with a germinal center phenotype (RAMOS) or the tonsillar B-cell centroblast fraction with CD40 rapidly increased Bcl-x levels and partially rescued B cells from PCD. These data suggest that Bcl-x rather than Bcl-2 may rescue centrocytes during selection in the germinal center.
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